Letter box



Mar. 6,1923.

n. H. SHEA-LAWLOR.

LETTER BOX.

mm use. 27. 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' 0. f7. S/Wa-LdW/OL INVENTOR m f w By a ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,822.

D. H. SHEA-LAWLOR.

LETTER BOX.

mm use. 27, 931. s SHEETS-SF|EET 2- WITNESS: ATTORNEY v Mar. 5, 1923.

1,447,822. D. H. SHEA-LAWLOH- LETTER BOX.

FILED DEC.2T1192L 3 SHEETSSHEET 3- 0. f7! J/zm-Law/oa m INVENTOR WITNESS:

ATTORN EY Patented Mar 6, 1923.

DONALD, HENRY SHEA-LAWLOR, or DUNEDIN, NEW ZEAIEAND.

LETTER BOX.

Application filed December 27, 1921.

This invention relates to boxes for the collection of mail and hasfor its object the provision of a mail box having a movable bottom provided with means whereby it may be opened to permit mail within the boxto pass out readily into a mail bag hung be neath the" box, this bottom being automatically returned to initial or closed position when a movable bolt member is actuated.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which will be a great labor saver as the bottom permits the entire contents of the box to be dumped very quickly into this sack or bag, when said bottom is opened.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character in which the controlling bolt which either opens the bottom or holdsthe same closed, is provided with a lockwhich prevents opening of the bottom by an facture, highly efficient in use, durable in service,- and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrat-ed. in the accompanying. drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device showingthe pa-rtsin locked position,

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the partsin unlocked position, Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof, Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, and The remaining figures are detail views. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a mail collection box which has the lower ends of its Serial No. 525,007.

walls straight, asindicated at 11, whereby to define a hopper-shaped outlet. Secured atthe bottom of the receptacle 10, beneath the hopper-shaped outlet, is a rectangular frame or casing member 12 which is provided with a bottom plate 13 hinged, as shown at 14. At its free edge the bottom 13 is provided with projections 15 and the bottom edge of the casing 12 is formed without-out portions 16 resigned to receive the projections 15.-

Upon the front wall of the casing 12 are providedguides 17 in the nature of longitudinally extending flanges and between these guides is slidabl-y mounted what I will term a bolt 18 which is provided at its lower edge with projections 19 adapted to engage beneath the projections 15 for holding the bottom- 13 in closed position.- This bolt carries a suitable locking device 20 by means of which it may be locked against movement so that. the device cannot be opened by an u-n-' authorized person. j

Rotatably mounted upon thefront of the casing 12, that is the same side provided with the bolt 18, is a se mental gear 21 with which is connected a cranlgarm- 21 pivot-ally connected with the bolt 18. J ournaled upon one end of the casing 12' is a segmental gear 22 meshing with the gear 21 and connected by a crank arm 23 with a lever member 24 which includes a relatively long arm 25 having a right angularly bent end 26 engaging beneath the bottom 13.

Secured upon the ends of the casing. 12 are guides 27 which are formed as strips and slidably mounted upon these guide strips are rings 28 carrying depending hooks 29' upon which is adapted to be hung a mail bag or sack, not shown, into which the mail within the box 10 is to be deposited.

Carried by the front of the casing 12 is a handle 30 which is provided with anaxle 31 which passes through the bolt 18 and: which has a straight edge 32 adapted to fit into or between teeth 38' on a bar 34 carried by the bolt.

The operation of the device is as follows:

WVhen the bottom 13 is closed the projections 15 thereon are disposed within the cut-out portions 16 in the front of the casing 12 and the projections 19 on the bolt 18 engage beneath the projections 15. The lock 20 is of course in locked position so that the bolt 18 cannot move. Then it is desired to remove the contents of the box 10 the lock 20 is unlocked, as by use of a suitable key, by a proper authorized person. This operator then grasps the handle 30 and swings it away from the gear 21 whereupon the bolt 18 will be shifted longitudinally to bring the projections 19 out 01 engagement beneath the projections 15. This movement of the bolt results in a pull on the arm 21 which results in partial rotation of the segmental gear 21 and this movement of the gear 21 is of course transmitted to the segmental gear 22. The movement of the gear 22 causes a pull upon the arm 28 which will result in swinging of the lever member 24 and downward swinging of the arm 25 carried thereby which-will permit the bottom 13 to drop by force of gravity. It is of course understood that before this is done the mail bag or sack is engaged upon the hooks 29 so that it will be suspended beneath the bottom of the device. The above described opening of the bottom permits the mail within the box 10 to drop out into the bag or sack. In order to closethe device and restore it to initial position, it is merely necessary that the operator grasp the handle 30 and swing it in the opposite direction whereupon the arm of the bolt will be transmitted through the arm 21 gear 21, gear 22, arm 23, lever member 24, and arm 25 to the bottom 13 which will result in drawing the bottom upwardly and the parts must be so constructed and the arrangement so related that immediately after the closing of the bottom plate and passage of the projections 15 into the cut-out portions 16, the projections 19 of the bolt will engage beneath the projections 15 and hold the bottom against movement. The lock 20 is then looked.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and easily operated device whereby the contents of a mail collection box may be bodily dumped into a mail sack so as to greatly expedite the Work of collecting the mail, an important feature being that the device is projected. against unauthorized operation. The device is not expensive and may easily be installed and it will be readily apparent that it will efficiently perform all the functions for which it is intended.

While I have shown and described the 'preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

'Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a mail receptacle having a hinged bottom, a laterally shiftable bolt member normally holding. said bottom in closed positionyand a pivoted lever member engaging the bottom and operated by movement of the bolt whereby to permit said bottom to drop when the bolt is shifted in one direction and to elevate said bottom into closed position when the bolt is moved in the opposite direction.

2-. In combination with-a mail receptacle, a hinged bottom therefor, a shittable bolt member normally holding said bottom in closed position, and lever actuated means connected with said bolt member and engaging said bottom.

3'. In combination with a mail receptacle, a casing at the discharge end thereof, a hinged bottom tor said casing, a laterally shiftable bolt member normally engaging said bottom for holding the same in closed position, a gear rotatably mounted upon said casing and connected with said bolt member, and a lever member operatively connected with said gear and including an .arm engagmg said bottom.

' 41. In combination with'a mail receptacle, a casing at the bottom end thereof, ahinged bottom for said casing, alaterally shit'table bolt member engaging said bolt and normally holding the same in closed position, a gear pivoted upon said casing and; connectedwith said bolt member whereby to be partially rotated by movement of the latter, and a segmental gear journaled upon an adjacent side of the casing and meshing with said gear,a lever connected with said segmental gear and including an arm engaging said bottom.

5. In combination with a mail receptacle, a casing at the bottom end thereof, a hinged bottom for said casing, a laterally shit'table bolt member engaging said bolt and. normally holding the same in closed posit-ion, a gear pivoted upon said casing and connected with said bolt member whereby to be partially rotated by movement of the latter, a segmental gear journaled upon an adjacent side of the casing and meshing with said gear, a lever connected'with said segmental gear and including an arm engaging said bottom, guide strips at the ends oi? said casing, and ring members slidable upon said guide strips and carrying hooks adapted to suspend a mail bag.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DONALD HENRY SHEA-LAWLOR. l 

